Lord Abbett partners Justin Maurer and Tom Maher, the portfolio managers of the micro, small, and smid-cap value products, have updated their earnings and sector outlooks for 2016. Of course, earnings estimates are largely dependent on sectors/end-market exposure, but this is more extreme than usual, given current problems within the energy, materials, and industrials sectors.

China, the world’s largest consumer of semiconductors, is moving aggressively into manufacturing them, which threatens producers in Korea and Taiwan.

Although China consumes half of the world’s semiconductors (see Chart 1), it doesn’t have a single domestic manufacturer among the 10 biggest chipmakers, according to Bloomberg News. Taiwan and South Korea account for the lion’s share of production. But with China’s government pushing to grow its own semiconductor industry for national security and lessen its dependence on foreign technology, recent deal making suggests a new world order may be in the offing.

The $330 billion global semiconductor industry is undergoing historic consolidation, but innovation in some quarters has stalled, say analysts.

In 15 years of covering the technology sector, Lord Abbett Research Analyst Eric Ghernati has never seen anything like the merger and acquisition (M&A) activity of the last several years. (See Chart 1.)

Unlike past cycles, the market is rewarding companies with proven deal making skills.

(Third of a three-part series)

In managing small cap, smid cap and micro cap value strategies, Lord Abbett partners and portfolio managers Justin Maurer and Tom Maher continue to focus on U.S.-centric companies that have financial and capital management flexibility to compete strategically. Along those lines, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) have been a significant investment theme—both in terms of potential buyers and sellers.

Has this year of volatility generated more value opportunities than the past?

“It’s almost been like a ball rolling down a hill,” said Lord Abbett Partner and Portfolio Manager Justin Maurer, who along with Lord Abbett Partner Tom Maher manages the firm’s value equity strategies.

In a recent conversation with a major client, Lord Abbett Partner and Portfolio Manager Tom Maher provided a rich perspective on how he, Lord Abbett Partner Justin Maurer, and the rest of their value team have managed during the latest market volatility.

Much is riding on new drugs that may slow the disease, says Lord Abbett Partner and Research Analyst Lavina Talukdar.

During her 15 years of covering the pharmaceuticals and biotechnology sectors, Lord Abbett Partner and Research Analyst Lavina Talukdar has plumbed the pipelines of a number of companies to assess which drugs have the potential to transform the Alzheimer’s market.

It’s not just millennials who are renting. Baby boomers and well-heeled Generation X-ers also are driving a surprising share of the overall demand for rental units.

Don’t let news of the slow housing recovery fool you. While sales and construction of single-family houses have faced considerable headwinds since the financial crisis of 2008–09, strong demand for rental units has fueled an apartment boom.

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